To the Editor:
The battle cry “ What is happening to my America?” is often heard from those groups opposed to President Obama’s administration. These are now the same groups that are against building a mosque in Lower Manhattan. I have to ask: Do you no longer believe in the First Amendment?

If you believe in the principles under which this country was founded, you cannot be a cafeteria citizen of the United States, choosing to adhere only to the portions of the Constitution that support your personal agenda.

Often labeled as a bleeding heart liberal, I now have to ask, what is happening to my America, when religious freedom is no longer a right afforded to everyone?

Roberta Millert
Bridgeport

Actions of few do not
determine motives of all
To the Editor:
I was distraught Aug. 17 to find an overwhelming amount of letters to the editor condemning President Barack Obama, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and religious leaders in New York City over their support of the Ground Zero mosque. How could a building proposed to spread cultural understanding and peace between peoples, something which is the cornerstone of the America I love so much, be such the subject of absolute hate?

I for one, have never seen hatred to be very becoming to Christianity, a religion that’s supposed to be a proponent of peace and love. In a few days, I leave for Berea College in Kentucky, a Christian school, whose motto is “God has made of one blood all the peoples of the earth.” This means everyone — black and white, Hindu and Muslim, Christian and atheist, capitalist and socialist — we’re all equal in the eyes of a Christian God.

Since when do the actions of few determine the motives of many? Yes, the people who drove those planes into the World Trade Center happened to be Muslims. Yet, even with how many atrocities over the years have been committed by Christians, we still view Christianity as the peace-loving religion it preaches to be. Why is this? Are we still fueled by such single-minded thought in this country?

Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama are the representatives of many, not just Christians. They must reconcile their rhetoric with a vast variety of people from all different beliefs. As such, the constitution maintains they cannot pick one religion over the other.

Galen Velonis
Tully

Muslims should consider
relocating new mosque
To the Editor:
As a practicing Muslim, I think the proposed building of the Park51 mosque at the so-called Ground Zero site is a bad idea, because of the amount of ill will that it is generating nationally. Moreover, it is not the tradition of Muhammad the prophet, whom all Muslims say that they use as a guide to practice Islam, to do anything to disturb the sensitivities of our neighbors.

What’s more, it is my prayer that the Muslims in New York will reconsider the building of this mosque/center near Ground Zero. And in doing so, will demonstrate that Muslims are good neighbors. For Allah, highly glorified is he, teaches that the entire earth is a mosque. Therefore, there is no reason the Muslims in New York should not reconsider the building of the Park51 Mosque in a less controversial area.

Abdul-Ra’oof Mustafa
Syracuse

Constitution defends
freedom of religion
To the Editor:
I am very proud that our president took the time to affirm his oath of office in the midst of the controversy about building a mosque near Ground Zero and to defend one of our most precious freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States.

While many people challenge the motives behind the selection of the site, I find it very distressing that some members of Congress and political leaders are turning this into a political issue. Regardless of motive, the First Amendment is very specific in protecting the “free exercise” of religion and certainly building a church, a synagogue, a mosque or a temple is to “exercise” one’s faith.

Not only the First Amendment, but also Article VI of the Constitution recognizes the importance of defending religious freedom by stating that all government leaders “both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Each time Obama stands up for the Constitution, it seems that public opinion, sparked by political ideologies, is taking precedence over the Constitution in order to win elections. Recently, when the president challenged the legality of Arizona’s enactment of that state’s own immigration laws, despite the legislation’s popularity, he was not only criticized for his actions, but also blamed for failure to halt illegal immigration and to enact immigration legislation.

I believe that “we the people” should recognize that our Constitution is intended “to form a more perfect union” rather than tearing it apart for political gain.

Frank Adler
Syracuse

Seeking viewpoints
on proposed mosque
To the Editor:
To all our elected Central New York state and federal representatives:

Would you please put forth your opinions on the building of the Muslim mosque in the vicinity of the World Trade Center?

Bill LaMattina
Clay

Despite claim, atheists
really can have beliefs
To the Editor:
After reading Suzanne Fields’ column Aug. 14, I briefly gasped in disbelief and then tried to imagine this woman lolling back in her chaise lounge one summer afternoon dispassionately and open-mindedly perusing the recent tomes of Hitchens, Dawkins and others of their ilk. It was surreal: a closed-minded ideologue seeking enlightenment? Who was she kidding? When you have all the answers (as presumably Fields does) no one can dissuade you from your own “truth.” Anyone who states: “Atheists by definition believe in nothing” is either a fool or, much more likely, trying to fool others.

As an atheist myself, I have strong beliefs that do not require any invoking of heavenly sources to confirm them. The commonality of the tenets of most religions, namely altruism, love of family, adherence to a “Golden Rule,” as well as other positive admonitions, convinces me that the evolution of homo sapiens and the ultimate success of this species rested in great part on the selection for and manifestation of these positive, communal traits.

However, there are, I believe, more negative traits of our primate ancestors, which, while useful at one time in our more primitive forbears, also persist and which may ultimately be our undoing. As tribal beings, we often express a xenophobic view of “others,” be it based on ethnicity, skin color or religion. These outsiders are seen as competitors for resources and therefore threatening to our well-being and those of our own “clan.” These are the seeds for wars, genocide and religious intolerance.

So there! Atheists can have beliefs, like them or not.

Richard Hallberg
Jamesville

Closed beach shows
problems of N.Y. state
To the Editor:
We had our family reunion at Selkirk Shores State Park on Lake Ontario this past weekend as we have for the past 10 years or so. We almost moved it when all the parks were closed, but stayed when it was reopened. What a mistake we made.

Although we still had to pay to get in, we could not go in the water. Try to explain to a group of kids that we were at the lake on a hot and beautiful day and we couldn’t go in — even at our own risk with my own children. They had no lifeguards so they closed the beach, but they could pay a man to guard the beach and we could chance being thrown out if we went in.

One of the younger boys said it best. “How could they do this to us? It is summer and we are at the beach.” He was right when he walked away mad at the leaders of this state and what they did to the people they represent.

All our state’s leaders should be ashamed of themselves for what they have done to this state. We have the highest taxed and most bureaucratic, dysfunctional state in the nation. They are a disgrace to the families they claim to represent and the people they lie to. None of them deserve to be in power, let alone get re-elected.

I will not vote for anyone seeking re-election and I encourage everyone who feels that the leadership in New York is broken to do the same.

Mark Reynolds
Oswego

/br/105>Matinees could be way
to solve SSO’s problems
To the Editor:
For the last few years I have been suggesting by writing and responding to fundraising phone calls from the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra that afternoon matinees might be the way to retain their aging but faithful audience. We loved the years when we were regular subscribers and were able to travel the two hours in the night to and from the wonderful performances. We finally had to give up. Matinees might save the orchestra.

Susan E. Naef
Hamilton

Army policy on soldier
discharges troubling
To the Editor:
The volunteer U.S. military forces now engaged in the Middle East are, as a group, the most courageous and patriotic this nation has ever deployed. The Army discharge of soldiers with “personality disorders” was a criminal act.

Many soldiers now being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder are the victims of rules of engagement that give the enemy the first shot. Many must cope with going home to their families, then being repeatedly returned to the war theater.

These brave soldiers deserve our support. They also deserve an investigation of the “hearts and minds” policy. Opium and warlords are the major contributors to Afghanistan’s gross national product.

Craig Taylor
Fayetteville

Money ‘lost’ in Iraq should fund vets’ care
To the Editor:
While the military admits it has no accounting of over $8 billion in lost aid to Iraq, our vets are being cheated of billions they are owed for being wounded in service. As the Associated Press article Aug. 16 stated, The Nation magazine exposed the fraudulent use of personality disorder (PD) to discharge wounded soldiers, denying them of lifetime disability benefits and long-term medical care.

The Nation magazine reported that since 2001, more than 22,600 soldiers were given PD dismissals instead of the PTSD diagnosis they deserved. Are we to believe what the Defense Department was quoted as saying, “We did not find evidence that soldiers with PTSD had been inappropriately discharged with personality disorder,” even though, since a 2007 policy change brought about because of The Nation’s disclosures, there has been a 75 percent drop in PD dismissals?

Let the military find some of that “lost” money and pay our vets what they deserve.

Larry Rutledge
Syracuse

This recovering addict
contributes to society
To the Editor:
In response to L. Heywood’s Aug. 5 letter that “all junkies care about is the high!” I just had to write because I don’t believe they talked to this so-called “junkie.” Personally, I prefer to call myself a “recovering addict.”

I also care about my health (I’m a vegan), my dogs (I have two), my family, my neighborhood, local history, my church (I’m a Christian), and most of all, my recovery (which is lifelong.)

So you might desire to have me in prison for my disease, but I prefer to be a contributing member of society.

Jimmy Tortorelli
Cicero

Stirpe’s office helped
solve insurance problem
To the Editor:
I had an ongoing problem with a health insurance issue and recently called Assemblyman Al Stirpe’s office. I talked to Christine at that office and explained the situation. She was very understanding and very helpful. Christine called me several times for additional information and updates. The issue was recently favorably resolved. This was my first experience calling a political representative. I was very impressed with the professional and personal assistance. Thanks!